PRESEC-Legon stages stunning comeback to win 9th NSMQ title

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) has fought back from a difficult start to capture the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) title, becoming the first school to win the prestigious competition 9 times.

The Ɔdadeɛ boys secured the championship with 40 points after overcoming stiff opposition from St Augustine’s College and Accra Academy in a tense 3-way final.

PRESEC’s victory appeared far from certain after the opening round, when the Legon-based school managed only nine points. St Augustine’s College and Accra Academy were jointly ahead on 11 points each.

The tide began to turn in the second round as PRESEC added eight points to move to 17, drawing level with St Augustine’s while Accra Academy reached 14.

A crucial breakthrough came in the third round, the Problem of the Day, where PRESEC picked up four points to move to 21. St Augustine’s stayed on 17, while Accra Academy remained on 14, giving PRESEC its first clear lead of the final.

Accra Academy responded strongly in the fourth round, adding 16 points to surge from 14 to 30. St Augustine’s also raised its tally to 27.

PRESEC, however, held its nerve under pressure, adding 13 points to move to 34 and entering the final round with the championship still firmly within reach.

The Legon side then sealed the contest in the final round, securing six additional points to finish on 40.

Accra Academy managed 3 more points to end the competition on 33, while St Augustine’s College finished on 27.

The 7-point winning margin completed one of PRESEC’s most impressive recoveries in an NSMQ final. From just nine points after the opening round, the school steadily built its score to reach the championship-winning 40.

The triumph further strengthens PRESEC-Legon’s dominance in the history of the NSMQ and establishes the school as the first institution to claim 9 championship titles.